The first day of classes for the 2018-2019 school year is officially in the books. As we launch into the year ahead, we will consistently look to our elected school leaders, Lucas Bush '19 and Zina Asante '19, for wisdom, guidance, and representation of the student body. The role of School Leader carries with it significant responsibility: attending all faculty meetings, running student government meetings with class representatives, meeting weekly with the Head of School and Assistant Head of School to discuss initiatives and student life goals, as well as serving on the Appeals Committee when a student appeals their dismissal from Proctor. We caught up with Lucas and Zina to hear their thoughts on the year ahead in today's blog. Read more below!

What are you most excited about in the upcoming year?

Lucas: There is so much to look forward to, but I am most excited about working with class representatives and other members of student government. I have been a class representative in the past and participating in meetings has always been a blast. Now, running those meetings with Zina and representing the student body to its fullest will be incredible.

Zina: In the past, I would daydream about being a school leader, and now those dreams have only become more vivid. I look forward to the meetings with faculty and students alike as we receive and review feedback from the community. Planning school events for the entire community, like barbecues and bouncy houses, will be fun, and I am anticipating getting silly and ridiculous requests, like Kool-Aid fountains in all the buildings. But above all, I can’t wait to help our school. Whether it’s a significant change or not, it is the the reason I ran in the first place. I am excited to actively help Proctor Academy become a better place for generations to come.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish with your fellow student leaders?

Zina: I want to continue the conversation around reducing substance use on campus. I want to collaborate with fellow student leaders, faculty, and the administration to determine the best course of action to help our community. Overall, there are many other things that I want to accomplish, but I know that it’s not only up to me. Changes in our school need the input and involvement from our entire community, I am simply here to represent and guide them along.

Lucas: I want to create the most active and inclusive campus environment as we possibly can. I hope that by having many fun events and activities people will get out of their rooms, meet new people, and deepen the connections that make Proctor such a special place. We have such a great community and I want to encourage people to fully participate and enjoy it.

What do you anticipate will be your biggest challenge this year, and how do you plan to overcome it?

Lucas: I think the greatest challenge will be serving on the Appeals Committee. Showing no bias to fellow students will be difficult, but I do believe I can make a just vote depending on the situations on the table because I understand the importance and necessity of the job.

Zina: I believe my biggest challenge of the school year will be continuing the difficult conversation around substance use, because it is one of my main goals. I believe the key to dealing with this issue is starting the conversation long before use has actually occurred, continuing to provide information on the risks, and offering alternative outlets and solutions, and working with our faculty to make sure we are all approaching the issue together as a community. 

Could you describe one of your personality traits that will help you in your leadership role?

Zina: I believe I am kind, but strict. My natural inclination is to help others, and I will usually go to the ends of the earth to do what I can for someone. As a representative of a diverse student body, I must not only listen to all who have a voice to speak, but also those without. I will have to empathize, see the problem through someone else’s eyes and then determine how to best solve it. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but one must know when to draw the line, and know when an individual has stepped over it. I imagine this will be important when serving on the Appeals Committee, because though my kindness will always look on the bright side, my strictness will make the final decision. The two balance each other and each will play an important role in my position.

Lucas: I have always seen myself as an outgoing person. I enjoy talking to new people whether it is students, faculty or staff. I hope everyone can feel free to come up to me and chat whenever they want. I truly want to be close with as many of the students as I possibly can. My outgoing personality will also help me more effectively communicate students’ wants and needs with the faculty and administration.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Proctor community as we head into this year?

Lucas: I am extremely excited for this upcoming school year! I cannot wait to see you all and catch up. If you are new to Proctor, please feel free to introduce yourself to me. Proctor is a great school and this will be a fantastic school year!

Zina: I look forward to making this a great year, and adding things to our school that will benefit us and future generations. We need to all collaborate and work together, and I am excited to get going and see you all back at school!